To tug or not to tug that is the question?

I need to know what the general feeling is to using chain tugs on a SS with horizontal dropouts and a bolt on White Ind. hub (not the eccentric one).

I have been using a Surly tug so far but with a 33/18 gearing I just can't get the chain adjustment right without losing a lot of the available adjustment the Surly tug has even on a new chain, which means I'm flying through chains.

I've tried a full half link chain but that thing was way too noisy!

I'm now running a single half link in a regular 1/8 chain but still lose a lot of initial adjustment space in the dropouts.

I guess the question is, do I actually need a tug or can I just bolt it up with no slippage even on the hills?

SS is fine without a chaintug if you have a bolt up axle, BMXs prove this.

I disagree. BMX's are used entirely differently to a mountain bike going up big hills. Quick spurts with low gearing, not mashing the pedals over rocky ground for hours at a time. My bolt on wheels move forwards with no tugs.

I disagree. BMX's are used entirely differently to a mountain bike going up big hills. Quick spurts with low gearing, not mashing the pedals over rocky ground for hours at a time. My bolt on wheels move forwards with no tugs.

I dunno, tighten your wheels more! My BMX axles are 14mm and they have big nuts on the end that you can lean on with a long spanner.

Perhaps its the wheel size? More torque or leverage or something with big wheels?

I commute about 10 miles a day fixed and have never felt the need for chain tugs. Need to tension the chain every few months I guess. Last chain I rode till it was so worn out 5 teeth of my 16 tooth sprocket had snapped off but it still pedaled fine.